Let your voice be heard! In this course we will work to develop our thoughts and ideas about the topics that matter most to you. We will learn to craft compelling arguments that can really make a difference, in the forms of persuasive essays, letters to the editor, debate, and more! Each day, we will practice writing in both formal and informal styles, critique writing samples, and work towards three published pieces for our class book. We will practice the various stages of the writing process as we pre-write, draft, revise, and edit our arguments, both with our peers and by ourselves. By the end of the three weeks, you’ll be amazed at how sophisticated and convincing your writing and speaking can be!  

In this lab science course, we will observe chemical and physical changes, examine the properties of substances, hypothesize and investigate experimental outcomes, do independent research on elements of our choice, and utilize laboratory journals to record notes and observations. Students will develop their observation and analytical skills by experimentally discovering the amount of oxygen in air, testing gases for specific properties, making polymers, growing crystals, testing toothpaste for desirable properties, and performing a forensics experiment to determine the identity of various substances. Using freezing point depression, students will make ice cream and understand the chemistry behind it. As a culminating activity, students plan and perform a chemistry “magic” show.

In this course, we will create pictures, animations, music, and interactive games. That’s a lot to accomplish, so instead of starting with markers and paint, we will be using a computer to help out. Much like the animators and computer programmers do at Pixar, you will learn to create pictures, animations, and music on the computer. You can even use these skills to make your own game on the computer! You will take all of your projects home on a USB drive so that you can easily show your friends and family. The software that we will use, Scratch, is free, so you can continue your projects after the class. The course is designed for students without programming experience and students with less than 20 hours of Scratch experience are encouraged to enroll.
Note: With parental permission, some students may be videotaped.

We will learn about physics by exploring Newton’s Three Laws of Motion. Course highlights will include: the effects of constant acceleration, culminating with students shooting marshmallows from paper blowguns, friction and the construction of a hovercraft large enough to ride on, Newton’s Third Law as exemplified by vinegar and baking soda powered rocket cars and, of course, lots of flying marbles.